Sunny Day In Bosnia by Gary O. Bennett
EXT. BOSNIA HILLSIDE DAY
The frame is filled with blue sky and hills in the
background. The CAMERA is very close to the ground.
Suddenly KATIE comes into frame, plopping on the ground. She
holds a rifle and wears a US Army helmet and fatigues. The
white lettering “UN” is taped to the helmet. Dust flies into
her face, which doesn’t please her. BRIGIT then falls into
frame. Brigit too holds a rifle and wears a similar US Army
helmet that is too big for her head. Brigit looks over the
hill toward the CAMERA and appears confused.
BRIGIT
Where is everybody?
KATIE
Why are you asking me? Why are you
asking me that question?
BRIGIT
It’s a reasonable question.
KATIE
You’re the one who directed us to this
spot. We are here because of you. Do
you know what this means?
BRIGIT
Katie, what are you getting upset about?
KATIE
We’re lost, Brigit.
BRIGIT
Well, you know.
KATIE
I know what?
BRIGIT
It’s a beautiful day.
KATIE
This is not Kansas. We’ve got Serbs
somewhere over there, and Croats over
there, and Muslims behind us.
BRIGIT
No, the Serbs are there, Katie.
KATIE
Does it matter. We’re surrounded.
BRIGIT
Well, yeah, but our division is supposed
to be right there, so we’re not
completely surrounded.
KATIE
But it’s not there, now is it?
BRIGIT
Maybe it’s our division that’s lost, and
not us. Did you ever think of that?
KATIE
Why did they put us together?
BRIGIT
We asked to be together.
KATIE
What was I thinking when I joined the
Army? What was I thinking? The Navy. I
should have joined the Navy. At least
you can get a little sun and fresh air
and see whales.
BRIGIT
And icebergs. Didn’t you see Titanic?
KATIE
What do we do now?
BRIGIT
I’m hungry.
KATIE
We ate rations an hour ago.
BRIGIT
Yeah, but we’re out. There’s a town over
there. Maybe we can find a grocery
store.
KATIE
You know the rules. We can’t just waltz
into a Bosnia grocery store and buy…and
buy Velveeta cheese.
BRIGIT
You think they have Velveeta cheese here?
KATIE
Brigit, you have to get into battle mode,
not shopping mode, OK?
A moment passes.
KATIE (cont’d)
Do you think you should look at the map
again?
BRIGIT
We don’t have to. Look.
Brigit points to a spot in front of them. Katie looks.
BRIGIT (cont’d)
I told you we’d find our division here.
KATIE
That’s not our division, Brigit. None of
the vehicles are white. There’s no UN
patch anywhere. Those are Serbs.
BRIGIT
How do you know they’re Serbs?
KATIE
Or they could be Croats…I don’t know.
Does it matter?
BRIGIT
OK. OK. So what do we do?
KATIE
What does the field manual say?
BRIGIT
I didn’t read the field manual.
KATIE
Christ, did you do anything you were
suposed to?
BRIGIT
Did you read the field manual?
KATIE
Yes. Sort of. But I’ve forgotten what
it says about when you get lost and then
confront the enemy.
BRIGIT
I knew I would forget all that stuff, so
I decided not to read it.
KATIE
I only forgot it because I didn’t expect
to get lost. I didn’t expect to end up
on a goddamn Bosnian hill all alone
surrounded by the enemy.
BRIGIT
You’re not alone, Katie.
KATIE
Yes. That’s right. Your presence here
is reassuring.
BRIGIT
I say we surrender.
KATIE
What? Those people will torture us.
They’ll rape us, Brigit.
BRIGIT
Yeah, but they probably have food.
Besides, they’re not going to rape two
American women. They only rape they’re
own women. It would be bad publicity for
them.
KATIE
Oh, you’re going to take that risk so you
can have a candy bar?
BRIGIT
I don’t want a candy bar.
Brigit pulls out her map.
KATIE
Shut up. Just shut up. We’re going to
stay right here. Got that?
BRIGIT
OK. OK. I was just joking.
KATIE
This is no joke. We are in dire
circumstances.
BRIGIT
Dire schmire. Look, they’re leaving the
area. And the map says that they’re
heading for the river.
I say when they are out of sight we go
down to…(looking at the map)…we go
down to…Do you know there’s a Bosnian
shopping mall just a few miles from here.
KATIE
That’s it. That’s it. That’s what our
company commander said. The shopping
mall. We were to meet at the shopping
mall.
BRIGIT
You’re kidding?
KATIE
No that’s what he said.
BRIGIT
How do you know it’s this one? (pointing
to the map)
KATIE
You think there’s more than one Bosnian
shopping mall?
BRIGIT
Well, I would hope so.
KATIE
Come on, there out of sight. Let’s go.
BRIGIT
Katie.
KATIE
Yeah?
BRIGIT
Are you mad at me?
KATIE
No.
BRIGIT
We’re still friends?
KATIE
Of course. Come on.
Katie gets up and walks off. As Brigit rises, she fires off
one last remark.
BRIGIT
Do you think the mall is open on Sunday?
THE END.
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